Subject: Rev 20:10 |
Bible Note: Dear Jesusman, Certainly the way this young man posted his question reveals many errant presuppositions. However, you wrote "...God isn't the one doing it" (sic). Who then is doing it? First, God is offended party. He alone is perfect and righteous. He alone condemns or justifies by the counsel of His own will. No one else can carry out the sentencing in perfect holiness. Second, we are repeatedly told in Scripture that God actively carries out His wrath upon the wicked (Exodus 15:7; 22:24; Number 11:33; 16:46; Deuteronomy 9:7, 8, 22; 1 Samuel 28:18; 2 Kings 23:26; 2 Chronicles 29:8; Psalm 21:9; 110:5; Isaiah 10:6; 13:13; 14:6; Jeremiah 32:37; Ezekiel 21:31; Nahum 1:2; Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 3:6; Revelation 6:16; 14:10; 19:15; etc. etc. etc.) People may hope that hell is non-existence or simply separation from God. (The self-torture thing doesn't bear discussing.) It will be much worse than that. "The degree of their punishment, is the uttermost degree. This may respect both a national and personal punishment. If we take it as a national punishment, a little after the time when the epistle was written, wrath came upon the nation of the Jews to the uttermost, in their terrible destruction by the Romans; when, as Christ said, Matt. xxiv. 21. 'was great tribulation, such as never was since the beginning of the world to that time.' That nation had before suffered many of the fruits of divine wrath for their sins; but this was beyond all, this was their highest degree of punishment as a nation. If we take it as a personal punishment, then it respects their punishment in hell. God often punishes men very dreadfully in this world; but in hell 'wrath comes on them to the uttermost.' By this expression is also denoted the certainty of this punishment. For though the punishment was then future, yet it is spoken of as present: 'The wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.' It was as certain as if it had already taken place. God, who knows all things, speaks of things that are not as though they were; for things present and things future are equally certain with him. It also denotes the near approach of it. The wrath IS come; i. e. it is just at hand; it is at the door; as it proved with respect to that nation; their terrible destruction by the Romans was soon after the apostle wrote this epistle." --Jonathan Edwards Scripture gives an explicit explanation for these things. It may contravene the teachings of many a televangelist, but it is there. I'd write more, but I haven't the time. Maybe later today. In Him, Doc |